The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-15
BARRIERS That ARK Not.
EMPTY PRECAUTIONS AGAINST
DANGEROUS CROSSINGS.
A Menace to Life and Property Csv-
cred by Law, Bat Not Prop
erly Enforced.

lam delighted to ses'The Old Relia.
BILE taking hold OF public evils, abuses
and nuisances with ubglovsd hands"
said q gentleman who has all along
prophesied great future for Memphis,
and maintained his obligation as a
citlz,n to hurry II along. whenever
you can find time and space to devote
to 1t, lay on to the safety gates which
are required, but do not exist, at rail-
way street crossings. There are more
death traps Of this kind to The square
inch In Memphis than in any
other city on the continent. So
powerful have corporations be.
come, in this day Of unpIe.
cedented prosperity and watered stock
basis for credit, that any municipality
has to keep one eve forever open lest
1t wake up some fine morning and dis.
cover that lock, stock and barrel have
been seized by the monied anaconda.
1t 10 the policy Of nearly all monopo.
lies and corporations that the common
people have no rights which they are
In the least bound to respect"
But great corporations are the life
and backbone OF every great metropo.
lis, such a. New York, Chicago and
Memphis, ars they not Z"
ITO DO sure they are absolutely %.
sential, and should be encouraged ;
but to invite them TO come In and be
one OF as does not mean TO enter and
take entire control. II allowed to 10
unbriddled they would soon cut their
own throsts In the wild race sgainst
rivals. Rigid but reasonable restric.
tions have never yet driven away q
desirable Institution from Memphis.
They come here because II is TO their
best interests to do 90, and In securing
the privilege or franchise merely kick,
squirm and threaten TO 20 elsew here
In order TO secure tho best possible
terms. That's business, You know;
only q little trick OF the trade"
"But you wander from the origina,
proposition-ssfety gates at railroad
street CROSSINGS. What Is the grievance
sbout them ?"
"You certainly are stranger In our
midst, or you would not ask such q
question. The city ordinances re-.
quire them wherever necessary, and
at isolated crossings other measures OF
safety, such % higmeo. Maybe the
companies do make pretense 10
comply with the law, but very frail
one. At the Second street crossing OF
the Louisville and Nashville road
there are safety gates, but several mar.
row escapes from horrible cAtastrophes
have been recorded just the same.
There 10 q screw loose do sn there
somewhere, or this would not be the
care. At the Main street crossing a
hagman is supposed 10 be stationed 10
ward of danger. and yet tits not the
safest placs In the univel SO by long
odds. The last case Of escape, aud, In
Tact, all Of them, the engineer Of 4. the
locomotive cauting II comes mp with a
plea OF obstructed view and careless
ness OF the parties 10 the other side,
and thus the loossness pasees out OF
mind. But is that valid? Regulations
should place accidents among the most
remote possibilities
Along the Memphis aud Charles.
ton road there are three crossiu rs OF
important streets-Uniop, Beale and
Vance. At Union street there 10 q
flag station, and, 70 far as / know, q
very effective one. But there are none
at either OF the other streets, and the
burden OF caution resta entirely upon.
the citizen. True, the dancer on,
there is not 80 great as at other points,
except 1t Vance street, along which
street cars run. But people should
have the fullest protection.
Probably the most dangerous
crossing la the city IL at Broadway and
Raybu avenue. There the street IL
n perfect ne work Of tracks, and n any
pr, csuiion against accident exlste,
they are too Insignificant 10 be worthy
the name. There are regular transfer
tracks over which trains OF cara from
nearly every road entering the city
pas, and a psrson compelled to cross
had better keep bis eye peeled, or
there will be q crash. II seems the
company Just laid hold OF and took
possession OF Broadway without 60
much LON the city as 10y your
leave, and the least they could do
under the circumstances is 10 erect
safe and sure barriers sgairs, the Ia.
Jury oil peron aud property"